Dictionary.com defines a narrative as a story or account of events and experiences. The definition for essay is a short literary composition on a certain theme or subject.
A narrative essay is often assigned in middle and high school, as well as college. They can also be written for publication in literary magazines and contests. Narrative essays are experiences, either from author or observed by the author, that teaches about a lesson learned or communicates a significant point.
A narrative essay should posses the same components as other stories: plot, character, setting, climax and ending. The essay may or may not contain dialogue and can be written in first or third person point of view. The essay should draw the reader into the scene by using sensory details that support the main idea. Leave out useless facts that don't support the point of the essay and don't just tell what was heard, seen and felt--instead, describe the way it sounded, looked like and felt.
Outline the essay before writing it. Listing significant events in chronological order to ensure nothing is forgotten. Tape yourself narrating the story to get a sense of how you naturally speak. This helps to give the essay your voice, which makes the readers feel like they are hearing you tell the story.
Topics for a narrative essay comes in the form of past or present life-changing experience or lesson learned. For example: a childhood memory, observation of an event, the first day of something, a bad day, an event gone better than anticipated or any moment in time that makes life a piece of art.